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Trelawny Parish Council Chairman and Falmouth Mayor, Councillor Garth Wilkinson, addressing the official opening ceremony for the University of Technology's (UTech) western campus head office in the town, on August 22.

UTECH Opens Western Campus Head Office in Falmouth

The University of Technology (UTech) has opened its western campus head office at the renovated Baptist Manse in Falmouth, Trelawny. The opening, which took place on August 22, forms part of strategic efforts by the institution and stakeholders in Trelawny...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), delivering the keynote address during Friday’s (August 23) business seminar and matchmaking meeting in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, which was jointly organized and hosted for Jamaican and Chinese entrepreneurs by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Embassy of Jamaica in China.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller Outlines Logistics Hub Benefits for Jamaica and China

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (centre), responds to questions from journalists during a back-to-school press conference, at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston on August 23. Others (from left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Elaine Foster Allen and Chief Education Officer in the Ministry, Grace McLean. The Ministry is reporting that the public education system is in an advanced state of readiness for the upcoming academic year.

All Public Schools Receive Grants for New Academic Year

Special Projects Officer at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Christine Ade-Gold (right), speaks to students about the agency’s Heritage Essay Competition 2013, which is open to children ages nine to 12. The occasion was the staging of the ‘Kingston 4 School and Health Fair’, at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus in Kingston, on August 22.The JIS, which mounted a booth at the event, was one of the partners in hosting the function, organised by the Introduction to Events Management course team (Cohort 14). The health fair was staged as part of Cohort 14’s practicum for the course.

Students Encouraged to Lead Healthy Lifestyles

Commissioner, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Laurie Williams (right), examines a Hydraulic cutter during a handing over ceremony at the York Park Fire Station in Kingston, on August 22. Others sharing in the moment (from left) are: Instructor and Representative from Hurst, Paul Felegy and Assistant Commissioner, Raymond Spencer. The rescue tools, valued at approximately US$35,000, were donated by ABC Electrical Sales. They include a combination of cutting and spreading tools, stabilizers and rams, which are used to assist with the extrication of casualties during an accident.

Jamaica Fire Brigade Gets Rescue Equipment

Managing Director, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Colin Campbell (left) is greeted by Managing Director, J.R. Group, Rene Wellington, when he arrived at the location in Kingston on August 21 where the first batch of articulated buses that were sourced for the JUTC this year are being housed. The buses were taken off the wharf on August 20. The JUTC plans to roll out an additional 144 buses by the end of the year. J.R. Group is the local dealer for the buses.

13 years ago Transport

JUTC Moving to Improve Customer Service

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is slated to roll out several initiatives over the next few months, which are aimed at improving the quality of service provided to passengers travelling on its buses. These include: training of staff in customer service; phased implementation of the cashless fare system; increasing the number of buses in operation; and introducing the new...

St. Elizabeth farmer, Mervis I. Logan (right), shows off samples of her produce to Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (left), following the Integrated Pest Management Farmer Field School graduation ceremony, held on the grounds of the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in Kingston on August 21. Looking on are (from second left): Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail and Executive Director, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton.

13 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Trained to Combat Beet Armyworm

To combat the dreaded beet armyworm on local onion and escallion production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has completed the training of some 22 farmers and eight extension officers in pest management procedures. The training course comes against the background of the 2012 outbreak of the pest, which resulted in the destruction of some 45 hectares of crops valued...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller in discussion with members of the Jamaican delegation including (from left) President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Francis Kennedy; Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Robert Pickersgill; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, Jamaica

13 years ago EnvironmentVision 2030Water

NWC Looking to Partner With Chinese Companies on Water Projects

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says the Government, through the National Water Commission (NWC), is looking to partner with the Chinese to implement a number of critical water and sewerage projects worth billions of dollars. The Minister said talks are already underway in this regard and he is hoping that a deal can be...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, addressing the 49th Annual Conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), held on August 21, at the Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Seated (from left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Elaine Foster-Allen (centre), and Chief Education Officer, Grace Mclean (right).

13 years ago Education

Tuition Money Owed to Teachers Will Be Paid Beginning October

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, says money owed to teachers under the tuition reimbursement scheme will be paid in tranches starting in October. “The sum of $322 million owed to teachers as reimbursement for tuition expenses, while an amount has been paid in small tranches over recent months; beginning in October, and proceeding monthly…but not beyond the end...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips (2nd left), shares a light conversation with (from left): Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Governor, Brian Wynter; International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Team Chief to Jamaica, Jan Kees Martijn; and IMF Resident Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Bert van Selm, during Thursday’s (August 22) media briefing, jointly hosted by the Finance Ministry and the Mission, in Kingston. Details of the country’s just concluded first quarter performance review, under the four-year IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF), were outlined.

13 years ago Finance & Public Service

IMF Mission Team Satisfied with Implementation of Economic Programme

The Government’s efforts in implementing Jamaica’s current economic programme have been deemed “strong” by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Team, which has concluded the country’s first quarterly review under the new Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The IMF team, led by Mission Head, Jan Kees Martijn, has been in the island for the past 10 days reviewing Jamaica’s performance, for...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Thwaites (left) speaks with Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Marissa Dalrymple Philibert (right), while looking on (from 2nd right) are three students from the constituency of South St. Andrew who were awarded the Detective Inspector Delvin ‘Sarge’ Grant Memorial scholarship valued at $250,000 each: Felicia West, Nandi Richards, and Shamar Stewart. The awards function was held at the Knutsford Court Hotel on August 21.

13 years ago Education

South St. Andrew Students Receive Scholarships

Three students from South St. Andrew were awarded the Detective Inspector Delvin ‘Sarge’ Grant Memorial scholarship valued at $250,000 each. The memorial scholarship was presented to Shamar Stewart who will be attending Wolmer’s Boys School, while the other recipients Felicia West and Nandi Richards will be attending the Immaculate Conception High School. The tenure of the scholarship is subject to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (fourth left), at a meeting with President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping (fourth right), in Beijing August 22. The Prime Minister is on a five-day official visit to China. To the Prime Minister’s right are: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A. J. Nicholson; Ambassador to China, Mr. Ralph Thomas and Dr. Carlton Davis, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister.

13 years ago Office of the Prime MinisterOfficial Visits

China to Help Construct Two New Infant Schools

As the Jamaican Government continues its push towards developing early childhood education, it has signed an agreement with the People's Republic of China for the construction of two new infant schools. The schools are to be located in Tower Hill, Kingston and Morant Estate, St. Thomas. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Hon. A. J. Nicholson,...